1. Leave Your Pup Alone In The Car

Any time of the year, leaving your dog alone in the car puts him or her at risk of getting stolen. Not to mention the deadly consequences of an overheating car in seemingly mild temperatures, even with the windows cracked. If you can’t bring your dog with you wherever you’re going, leave him or her at home!

2. Give Affection At The Wrong Times

Your dog will never learn what is right and what is wrong if you smother themwith affection even when they havedone something terribly wrong. Yes, guilty puppies are adorable, but they still need to learn right from wrong, especially when it comes to nipping or biting.

3. Overfeed Them

Treats are a great way to motivate good behavior, but if you overdo it, you could be putting your dog’s health at risk. Make sure you keep an eye on the scale and look for healthier options when it comes to treats.

4. Forget About Their Teeth

It’s recommended that dogs get their teeth brushed daily. Many dogs suffer from disease and tooth infections that go untreated, so at the very least, make sure that your veterinarian checks your dog’s teeth once a year.

5. Use The Wrong Collar

Each dog breed has it’s own specific needs for a collar. Dogs with shorter snouts can be seriously injured with a collar that only goes around the neck, and need to be controlled by a harness instead. Ask your veterinarian and do your research before purchasing a collar.

6. Let Your Dog Lead You

When you take your dog for a walk, don’t let yourself become the one being walked. This can lead to them accidentally running into traffic or a number of other dangerous or unruly behaviors. So make sure that if you notice this happening, get a short leash and discourage your pup’s bossy behavior.

8. Share Dangerous Food

Sharing food with your canine companion can be ok on some occasions, but make sure that what you’re feeding him or her isn’t dangerous or deadly, like chocolate, or meat on the bone. Do your research before sharing your leftovers!

9. Hit Your Dog

A newspaper to the nose will only diminish the bond between you and your dog. Hitting a dog in any way as a form of punishment or otherwise will lower his or her confidence, and make the poor pup more likely to lash out later.

10. Use A Crate As Punishment

You want your dog to associate the crate with being safe and sound, not with being in trouble. If you want your dog to be obedient about getting into the crate when it’s bedtime or when you have to step out, never, ever use it as punishment.

Do you do any of these things to your dog? Please SHARE with your fellow dog owners!